First verification of SCIAMACHY\'s polarisation measurements

LG Tilstra, M de Graaf, P Stammes

We present a preliminary report on the verification of the SCIAMACHY level 1 polarisation product. The polarisation obtained from the PMD channels is necessary to correct for the dependence of SCIAMACHY on the polarisation of the detected radiation. As it turns out, the signals of the PMD channels behave rather well and can additionally be used as a very useful tool for imaging the Earth's surface. However, the fractional polarisations, necessary for the polarisation correction, show large errors. A possible explanation is given.